For Sale: 1955 Ford Thunderbird in Pasadena, California for sale in Pasadena, CA
Vehicle Description This 1955 Ford Thunderbird was the 115th unit to come off the assembly line on September 23, 1954, but it has since undergone many changes as it was transformed into a street rod T-Bird.
A 428 CobraJet FE V8 replaced the original 292 Y block and the suspension/braking components were upgraded.
Mustang Yellow paint (circa 1999) now covers the originally Thunderbird Blue body.
A three-year restoration/modification was completed in 2000 and several updates were completed between 2020 and 2023.
Performance parts include an Edelbrock Performer camshaft and lifters, an Edelbrock F427 intake manifold, Holley 750-cfm carburetor, Hedman headers, a Mallory dual-point distributor, and an aluminum radiator, high-flow water pump, 190-degree thermostat, electric fan, and a Corvette expansion tank to help keep the engine cool.
The battery was relocated to the trunk.
Cold starts take a couple throttle pumps.
Blue smoke is evident when starting if the car sits longer than 48 hours and there is a minor oil leak from the rear main seal.
The transmission is a rebuilt 1968 C-6 automatic that shifts smoothly through all gears, although reverse can clunk when cold.
The transmission has a 12-inch Continental torque converter and a floor shifter from a '72 Mustang.
The rear end is a narrowed Ford 9-inch from a '67 Galaxie with a 3.
25:
1 limited slip center section and 31-spline axles.
There is minor seepage from the transmission.
The body and frame are original to the car although the data plate color code T indicates the car was originally Thunderbird Blue.
The current color is 1999 Mustang Yellow basecoat/clearcoat with a Snowshoe White removable hardtop and a black canvas soft top.
The hardtop was restored and installed in 2020 and is actually a '56 top, as identified by the portholes.
The hood has four rows of louvers.
The seller classifies the paint condition as generally good as there are minor scratches on the left rear quarter panel and the passenger's door.
There are no dents and any scratches have been touched up.
All the glass was replaced during the restoration along with the rubber seals.
The firewall data plate lists C for the interior code which translates to Turquoise and White vinyl upholstery.
It has since been replaced with black and white vinyl in the original pattern.
The driver's side could use some extra foam padding.
The power seat works correctly in the vertical mode but not the horizontal mode and the black carpet was replaced during the restoration.
The traditional-style gauges are from Classic Instruments.
The car has aftermarket air conditioning and a functional heater.
The steering wheel is a Grant Classic Nostalgia model that was added in 2020.
The original frame was modified to accommodate the Mustang II front suspension and the narrowed 9-inch rear end, and the front springs have been shortened and the rear end is located via a two-link system and parallel leaf springs.
The 11-inch front disc brakes were upgraded with new discs, calipers, and pads in 2020.
The master cylinder is from a '76 Pinto and the rear brakes are drums.
The wheels are rare Mehelich slotted alloys with three-wing knock off centers.
The front wheels are 14x6 inch with P195/70R14 BFGoodrich Radial T/As and the rear wheels are 15x7-inch with P225/60R15 Radial T/As that were original to the restoration, according to the seller, which makes them over 20 years old.
DATA PLATE P - Engine (292ci 4-barrel V8) 5 - Model year (1955) F - Assembly plant (Dearborn, Michigan) H - Body style (Thunderbird) 100115 - Consecutive number 40A - Body type (Thunderbird) R - Color (11115 Thunderbird Blue) A - Trim (Turquoise/White) 23 - Day of the month manufactured (23rd) J - Month manufactured (September) Sales district (N/A) Sequence number - S1100 ENGINE 1970 428 Cobra Jet block and heads Hedman headers #89100 190 degree HI-FLOW thermostat HI-FLOW water pump 1960's Corvette radiator expansion tank Mallory dual point distributor Edelbrock Performer cam and lifters Edelbrock F427 intake manifold Holley model 4150 750 cfm carburetor Aluminum radiator with electric cooling fan Trunk-mounted battery TRANSMISSION & REAR END Rebuilt Cruise-O-Matic three-speed C-6 transmission Continental Torque converter 12 F33 Rev C/S 1972 Ford Mustang floor shift w/neutral safety switch (NSS) Moog #353 rear u-joints Narrowed 9 1967 Ford Galaxie rear end and drum brakes 31 spline axles 3.
25:
1 limited slip center section SUSPENSION Rear two-link rear inboard struts with leaf springs Mustang upper and lower control arms Shortened front springs Rack and pinion steering 1.
25 front sway bar 11 front disc brakes (new discs, calipers and pads installed August 2020) 1976 Ford Pinto brake master cylinder Standard rear drum brakes EXTERIOR 1999 Mustang BZ Chrome Yellow 1956 Snowshoe White hard top with porthole windows Black manual folding cloth soft top and frame (installed during restoration) Tinted glass Electric trunk release Mehelich slotted alloy mag wheels with faux three-wing knock off caps (14x6 front; 15x7 rear) BF Goodrich white letter radial tires (front:
P195/70R14, rear:
P225/60R15) INTERIOR Translucent 150-mph speedometer Classic Instruments Traditional tachometer, oil, water, fuel and voltage clusters Retro Thunderbird badge AM/FM stereo cassette deck Pioneer dual cone front speakers Pioneer 2-way rear speakers Black over white vinyl bench seat Thunderbird classic logo floormats 6-volt power windows ADDITIONAL MAINTENANCE/UPGRADES June 2023 - NOS oil pan, new gaskets, oil & filter change April 2023 - new Holley carbureator February 2023 - new Deka battery February 2022 - Felpro value cover gaskets September 2021 - Hedman header gaskets February 2020 - Grant Classic Nostalgia steering wheel February 2020 - hardtop restored and installed by Prestige Thunderbird, Santa Fe Springs, CA December 2019 - Autolite platinum spark plugs.
A 428 CobraJet FE V8 replaced the original 292 Y block and the suspension/braking components were upgraded.
Mustang Yellow paint (circa 1999) now covers the originally Thunderbird Blue body.
A three-year restoration/modification was completed in 2000 and several updates were completed between 2020 and 2023.
Performance parts include an Edelbrock Performer camshaft and lifters, an Edelbrock F427 intake manifold, Holley 750-cfm carburetor, Hedman headers, a Mallory dual-point distributor, and an aluminum radiator, high-flow water pump, 190-degree thermostat, electric fan, and a Corvette expansion tank to help keep the engine cool.
The battery was relocated to the trunk.
Cold starts take a couple throttle pumps.
Blue smoke is evident when starting if the car sits longer than 48 hours and there is a minor oil leak from the rear main seal.
The transmission is a rebuilt 1968 C-6 automatic that shifts smoothly through all gears, although reverse can clunk when cold.
The transmission has a 12-inch Continental torque converter and a floor shifter from a '72 Mustang.
The rear end is a narrowed Ford 9-inch from a '67 Galaxie with a 3.
25:
1 limited slip center section and 31-spline axles.
There is minor seepage from the transmission.
The body and frame are original to the car although the data plate color code T indicates the car was originally Thunderbird Blue.
The current color is 1999 Mustang Yellow basecoat/clearcoat with a Snowshoe White removable hardtop and a black canvas soft top.
The hardtop was restored and installed in 2020 and is actually a '56 top, as identified by the portholes.
The hood has four rows of louvers.
The seller classifies the paint condition as generally good as there are minor scratches on the left rear quarter panel and the passenger's door.
There are no dents and any scratches have been touched up.
All the glass was replaced during the restoration along with the rubber seals.
The firewall data plate lists C for the interior code which translates to Turquoise and White vinyl upholstery.
It has since been replaced with black and white vinyl in the original pattern.
The driver's side could use some extra foam padding.
The power seat works correctly in the vertical mode but not the horizontal mode and the black carpet was replaced during the restoration.
The traditional-style gauges are from Classic Instruments.
The car has aftermarket air conditioning and a functional heater.
The steering wheel is a Grant Classic Nostalgia model that was added in 2020.
The original frame was modified to accommodate the Mustang II front suspension and the narrowed 9-inch rear end, and the front springs have been shortened and the rear end is located via a two-link system and parallel leaf springs.
The 11-inch front disc brakes were upgraded with new discs, calipers, and pads in 2020.
The master cylinder is from a '76 Pinto and the rear brakes are drums.
The wheels are rare Mehelich slotted alloys with three-wing knock off centers.
The front wheels are 14x6 inch with P195/70R14 BFGoodrich Radial T/As and the rear wheels are 15x7-inch with P225/60R15 Radial T/As that were original to the restoration, according to the seller, which makes them over 20 years old.
DATA PLATE P - Engine (292ci 4-barrel V8) 5 - Model year (1955) F - Assembly plant (Dearborn, Michigan) H - Body style (Thunderbird) 100115 - Consecutive number 40A - Body type (Thunderbird) R - Color (11115 Thunderbird Blue) A - Trim (Turquoise/White) 23 - Day of the month manufactured (23rd) J - Month manufactured (September) Sales district (N/A) Sequence number - S1100 ENGINE 1970 428 Cobra Jet block and heads Hedman headers #89100 190 degree HI-FLOW thermostat HI-FLOW water pump 1960's Corvette radiator expansion tank Mallory dual point distributor Edelbrock Performer cam and lifters Edelbrock F427 intake manifold Holley model 4150 750 cfm carburetor Aluminum radiator with electric cooling fan Trunk-mounted battery TRANSMISSION & REAR END Rebuilt Cruise-O-Matic three-speed C-6 transmission Continental Torque converter 12 F33 Rev C/S 1972 Ford Mustang floor shift w/neutral safety switch (NSS) Moog #353 rear u-joints Narrowed 9 1967 Ford Galaxie rear end and drum brakes 31 spline axles 3.
25:
1 limited slip center section SUSPENSION Rear two-link rear inboard struts with leaf springs Mustang upper and lower control arms Shortened front springs Rack and pinion steering 1.
25 front sway bar 11 front disc brakes (new discs, calipers and pads installed August 2020) 1976 Ford Pinto brake master cylinder Standard rear drum brakes EXTERIOR 1999 Mustang BZ Chrome Yellow 1956 Snowshoe White hard top with porthole windows Black manual folding cloth soft top and frame (installed during restoration) Tinted glass Electric trunk release Mehelich slotted alloy mag wheels with faux three-wing knock off caps (14x6 front; 15x7 rear) BF Goodrich white letter radial tires (front:
P195/70R14, rear:
P225/60R15) INTERIOR Translucent 150-mph speedometer Classic Instruments Traditional tachometer, oil, water, fuel and voltage clusters Retro Thunderbird badge AM/FM stereo cassette deck Pioneer dual cone front speakers Pioneer 2-way rear speakers Black over white vinyl bench seat Thunderbird classic logo floormats 6-volt power windows ADDITIONAL MAINTENANCE/UPGRADES June 2023 - NOS oil pan, new gaskets, oil & filter change April 2023 - new Holley carbureator February 2023 - new Deka battery February 2022 - Felpro value cover gaskets September 2021 - Hedman header gaskets February 2020 - Grant Classic Nostalgia steering wheel February 2020 - hardtop restored and installed by Prestige Thunderbird, Santa Fe Springs, CA December 2019 - Autolite platinum spark plugs.
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